- More than 20 Disney-owned channels have been suspended from YouTube TV effective immediately
- The two companies “failed to reach an agreement on a new transport agreement before midnight”
- ESPN, ABC, Nat Geo and Disney Channel are affected
More than 20 Disney-owned channels are now missing from YouTube TV, as the two companies “failed to reach an agreement on a new streaming deal before a midnight deadline,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The following channels are no longer available:
- alphabet
- ABC news live
- CAC Network
- disney channel
- Disney Junior
- DisneyXD
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPNU
- ESPNoticias
- free form
- foreign exchange
- FXX
- FXM
- local
- Nat Geo
- Nat Geo Wild
- SEC Network
- ESPN Deportes (ES)
- Baby TV Spanish (ES)
- Nat Geo World (ES)
A Disney spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, Google’s YouTube TV has decided to deny its subscribers the content they value most by refusing to pay fair rates for our channels, including ESPN and ABC.
“With a market capitalization of $3 trillion, Google is using its market dominance to eliminate competition and undermine the industry standard terms we have successfully negotiated with all other distributors. We know how frustrating this is for YouTube TV subscribers and we remain committed to working toward a resolution as quickly as possible.”
While Disney is supposedly “looking for a better deal than anyone else on the market,” all is not lost for subscribers who will now miss out. There are currently three alternatives for where to watch missing channels during suspension on YouTube.
Watch Disney Channels on FuboTV
On October 29, Disney and Fubo closed a deal that effectively merges their live TV business, so the content we’re now missing on YouTube TV isn’t going anywhere here.
As another independent company with around 6 million subscribers (as opposed to YouTube TV’s 10 million), it’s probably the closest rival of the options we have now.
According to Fubo co-founder and CEO David Gandler, both companies are now looking to create “a more flexible streaming ecosystem that gives consumers more choices.” Disney now has a 70% stake in the company.
Fubo TV subscribers can watch ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN and other live channels without cable or contract.
Watch Disney Channels Using Hulu + Live TV Bundle
Since Hulu’s live TV package is also involved in the deal mentioned above, jumping directly into the Disney-Hulu partnership is another great option. Hulu is now launching globally and will be integrated into an app with Disney content by 2026.
However, there is a small drawback here. Subscription prices for the service have tended to increase between $1 and $2 year over year, and the integration suggests greater “price elasticity.” Nothing has been confirmed yet, but any offers on the service could be very useful.
Watch Disney Channels on Sling
The option that most people will probably forget about is Sling TV, which is arguably the best option for sports fans. Similar to Fubo, subscribers can stream live TV, including ESPN, without the need for cable.
I’ve included the best introductory offer above, but Sling offers some of the best streaming deals in multiple ways.
Sling TV has two main plans to choose from (Sling Blue or Sling Orange), with Sling Orange currently at a monthly price of $23, which is down from the usual price of $45.99.
The four-month season pass is also discounted from $280 to $199, and if you really want to extend your plan, add-ons for AMC+ and Paramount+ are also available.
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